Pereira was born in Tucumã, Pará, Brazil.[7] He started training karate at the age of 12, complementing his skillset with Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the age of 16 onwards.[7]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Michel Pereira began his professional mixed martial arts career fighting in regional promotions of his native state of Brazil, Pará, as well as 300 Sparta, amassing a professional record of 9–3 with notable wins over the veterans Daziel da Silva Jr. and Silmar Nunes. These early wins earned a chance to fight with the bigger promotions. Such as Jungle Fight and XFC.[3]
In his first fight and only fight with Jungle Fight, he faced Junior Orgulho. He won by a unanimous decision.[10]
His next fight was a loss versus Junior de Oliveira with Iron Man CF. After a win against Caio Robson, Michel Pereira earned a contract with XFC. Fighting on the prelims of XFC International 7, Pereira faced Geraldo Coelho. Responding to his opponent's pressure with clinching and a takedown, Pereira ended the fight in the third round by way of a guillotine choke.[11] His next fight was on the prelims of XFC International 9, during which he faced Cairo Rocha. With various techniques such as wheel kicks and flying knees, Michel earned a victory through a unanimous decision.[12] These two victories gave him a main even fight against Carlston Harris, which Pereira lost through a unanimous decision.[13]
Following this Pereira fought with various promotions during which he lost a decision against Abubakar Vagaev,[14] Ismael de Jesus[15] and Kurbanjiang Tuluosibake,[16] while also netting wins against Stanley Barbosa by way of an arm triangle choke,[17] as well decisions against Renato Gomes and Cristiano Estela Rios.[18]
Serbian Battle Championship and Road FC
His 16–8 record earned him a chance to fight for the vacant SBC Welterweight Championship against Luka Strezoski at SBC 15 on 8 December 2017.[19] Pereira won a majority decision.[20] Pereira was scheduled to defend his SBC title against Laerte Costa at SBC 17 on 18 April 2018.[21] He won the fight by a first-round rear naked choke submission.[22]
Moving away from SBC, Pereira was scheduled to face Carlos Perira at Arena Fight 8 on 12 May 2018, in a 176 lbs catchweight bout.[23] The fight ended in a no-contest, due to a cage malfunction.[24]
His next fight was likewise a 176 lbs catchweight about, against Ryul Kim at HEAT 42 on 27 May 2018.[25] The fight was Pereira's South Korean debut. Pereira won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[26] Pereira was next scheduled to face Hea Jun Yang at Road FC 48.[27] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[28] Pereira remained on the South Korean circuit for his next fight, being scheduled to fight Batmunkh Burenzorig at HEAT 43 on 17 September 2018.[29] Although he won the fight by a read-naked choke submission, the result was later overturned into a no-contest, due to Periera missing weight.[30]
Pereira was scheduled to make his second SBC Middlweight title defense against Duško Todorović at SBC 19 on 1 December 2018.[31] Todorović won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[32]
Periera was scheduled to face Won Jun Choi at Road FC 051 XX on 15 December 2018, in a 190 lbs catchweight bout. Pereira won the fight by a 41-second knockout.[33] Pereira was scheduled to face the heavyweight Dae Sung Kim at Road FC 052 on 23 February 2019, in an openweight bout.[34] Pereira beat Kim by a second-round technical knockout.[35]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Pereira's first fight in the UFC was scheduled for 18 May 2019 at UFC Fight Night 152 against Danny Roberts[36] Pereira utilized unorthodox striking techniques, including an attempted showtime kick, and superman punch, before winning the fight via knockout early in round one.[37] Periera was awarded a Performance of the Night award.[38]
Pereira's next fight was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 158 against Sergey Khandozhko.[39] Sergey would face visa issues and was replaced by the Canadian Tristan Connelly.[40] Pereira missed weight by 2 pounds.[41] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. MMA Junkie would pick this fight as their "Upset of the Year".[42] The fight was awarded a Fight of the Nightaward.[43] for which Pereira was ineligible as he missed weight, which meant Pereira forfeited 30% of his purse, as well as his $50,000 share of the FOTN award[44]
Pereira's third UFC opponent was Diego Sanchez whom he faced at UFC Fight Night 167 on 15 February 2020. Pereira dominated Sanchez for most of the fight but was disqualified for hitting Sanchez with an illegal knee while he was grounded.[45]
Pereira faced Zelim Imadaev on 5 September 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176.[46] There was controversy during the weigh-ins as Imadaev slapped Pereira in the face, and both had to be restrained by the event's staff.[47] Pereira dominated the fight, and slapped Imadaev back several times, before winning the fight via submission in the third round. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.[48]
Pereira faced Niko Price on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264.[51] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[52]
Pereira was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on 15 January 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32.[53] However, Salikhov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and the bout was cancelled.[54]
Pereira was scheduled to face Sean Brady on 25 March 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43.[60] However, Brady pulled out in mid-February due to a torn groin and the bout was scrapped.[61]
Pereira was scheduled to face Stephen Thompson on 29 July 2023 at UFC 291.[62] However, at the weigh-ins, Pereira weighed at 174 pounds, 3 pounds over the non-title welterweight limit. As a result, the bout was scrapped.[63]
After a 17-month layoff, Pereira was scheduled to return to the middleweight division, facing Marc-André Barriault on 14 October 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230.[64] However, Barriault withdrew due to medical issues and was replaced by Andre Petroski.[65] Pereira won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[66] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[67]
Pereira was scheduled to face Makhmud Muradov on 4 May 2024, at UFC 301.[71] However, Muradov withdrew due to an infection,[72] and he was replaced by Ihor Potieria.[73] He won the bout early in the bout via guillotine choke.[74] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[75]
It was briefly announced that Pereira would face Roman Dolidze on 8 June 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57.[76] However, Pereira claimed he never signed any contracts for the fight and the bout fell through.[77]
Pereira was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on 14 September 2024 at UFC 306.[78] However, the bout was rescheduled to 19 October 2024 to serve as the main event at UFC Fight Night 245.[79] He lost the fight by technical knockout as a result of significant control time and ground strikes in the fifth round.[80]